OK. I admit it. I am a technical neandrathal that often needs my kids to tell me how to work the computer. I have never joined a community discussion on the web before and am not sure if I'm doing it right. Someone please let me know.
I am motivated to talk to someone right now because I am just coming down off of a 26 hour (so far) migraine. It is much better right now but still bugging me and so I was on the web looking for information on weather related migraines and found this site.
I am 49 year old white male and have been suffering with migraines all of my life. My mother had them until she was about my age, but mine have yet to go away. At age 17 my migraines took off and began happening on a much more frequent basis and have gone in cycles that seem to correlate with changing weather patterns. Yes, all of the "bad foods" seem to affect them as well. As does overexercise, sex, scents, etc. Perfume is a big one for me. Going to church is a real trial. Why do women have to wear so much of the stuff??
I use Imetrex injectables for migraines when I get them but am currently out until new prescription from doctor in two weeks. My doctor has tried many preventative medications on me and only a couple of them have worked. I cannot stand to be in a mental fog, which too many of them seem to do, or be lathargic which many of them do.
Topamax made my headaches worse for a few weeks but then cleared them up. It was great to have them dissappear but the side effects were immpossible to live with. I had serious problems with word finding. I knew what I wanted to say to people but could not come up with simple words like "if, and, it, were, because, as, the, etc.". Harder words often came easier than simple connective words- but not always. There were times when I just could not finish a sentence and it was very frustrating at work and at home to try to communicate with people. It also made me restless and I was usually walking around looking for something to occupy my time. My wife appreciated that I was getting more done around the house (and maybe my not talking much too) but after the initial jokes she and the kids had because I fumbled over my words all the time they began to tire of my inability to carry on a converstion as well.
So.... my questions,
Would this have gone away in a few more weeks??
What other drug choices are available besides seizure meds and depression meds??? My last years visit to my doctor was frustrating because he seemed frustrated that nothing has worked well except the a couple of the seizure meds and they cause me problems. I am supposed to see him again in two weeks (June 30th).
Hello, Praeter,
Welcome to MyMigraineConnection!
For a "techinical neandrathal," you've done quite well so far.
For some people, Migraines do see to stop after a certain age. Usually, that happens with women who have hormonal triggers. After menopause, their Migraines sometimes just stop. My mother was that way. Her monthly cycle always triggered Migraines, but hers stopped at the age of 48 with menopause. My Migraines, on the ohter hand, were never affected by my cycle, and I still have them at the age of 54.
Barometric pressure changes are a fairly common trigger, as are the others you listed. Don't lose hope on the preventive front though. There are over 100 medications that can be used for prevention. You can find a list, broken down by type of medication, in our article Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!
You ask, "Would this have gone away in a few more weeks?" A Migraine should never be let go more than 72 hours. If a Migraine persists longer than 72 hours -- without a solid pain-free period of at least four hourse, while awake, it's termed Status Migrainous, and you should seek medical care. See Status Migrainous - The Basics for more information about this.
What kind of doctor are you seeing? If he doesn't know that there are many options other than the seizure meds, maybe it's time for a new doctor. We have a directory of patient recommended Migraine specialists you can check out if you want.
If you'd like more direct contact to discuss Migraines with others, check out our discussion forum. You will need to register again to post to the forum, but the registration is free, and you can use the same email address and password that you used here.
Hope this helps!
Teri
Teri,
Thank you for reply.
Yes, I have checked out the term "status migrainous" on this site and am now familiar with it. When I asked if "it" would go away I was asking about the problem with "word finding" while on Topamax (which I am no longer taking). I stopped taking it after three months because I couldn't comunicate with my family or people I worked with and also had problems focusing on anything written or even listening to a conversation for more than a couple of minutes. Would this problem have left if I had persisted in taking the drug?? Thanks again, Praeter13th